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It looks like the next big-box store to get the iPad will be Walmart. Last May, Walmart stated that it was planning on offering the iPad in time for the holiday shopping season. Now, it appears that Walmart will be offering all six versions of the iPad beginning next week, along with accessories and AppleCare. Each store is said to be getting five units of each model per store.

Walmart is largest retailer in the US with more that 2800 supercenters and 750 smaller discount stores nationwide. By comparison, there are currently about 300 Apple Retail Stores worldwide. With Walmart deeply entrenched in the heartland of America, it makes sense for Apple to partner with such a large retailer. Apple is relatively new to the brick and mortar game and Walmart can sell in areas of the country not yet accessible to Apple. Demand for the iPad remains strong and netbook sales have been hit hard since its release last April. Apple hopes to keep this momentum going as long as possible.

Target started selling the iPad on October 3, but has chosen not to display working demo units. The display setup is less than inviting, with iPads being displayed on the bottom shelve of locked display cases. In contrast, Walmart plans on having working demo units available that showcase the iPads various features.

Adding Walmart to the growing list of retailers carrying the iPad this holiday season, Apple is sure to have a very profitable new year. With Walmart joining the likes of Best Buy and Target, in addition to the Apple Store, the iPad will be in so many retail locations that it will be hard to miss. Can deeply discounted iPads be too far off now that Walmart has hold of them? We’ll just have to wait and see.